Concerns over Hereford Enterprise Zone compromising Herefordshire Safety misplaced
Realisation that the “Security and defence” focus of the Hereford Enterprise
Hereford Security Focus
Zone may bring some of the biggest names in weapons and arms to Herefordshire has caused some to voice concerns.
The concerns are twofold: Firstly, that there will be increased security risk to Hereford and the people of Herefordshire. Secondly, that the Enterprise Zone will be seen negatively in that Herefordshire is in some way arming the world.
With Herefordshires long standing discreet relationship with the armed forces these concerns should not prevent investors taking seriously the opportunity to invest in Herefordshire.
For advice and assistance for investors and businesses considering Herefordshire please reply to this post. No replies will be posted on line but all will be dealt with discreetly.
Hereford Enterprise Zone, Rotherwas Herefordshire – what’s the offer
Rotherwas Enterprise Zone – in Hereford led by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership proposes:
- Size: three sites covering 61.5 hectares;
- Sector focus: defence, advanced engineering, green technologies and food processing;
- Tax break: Save business £4 million in forgone business rates;
- Job creation: Local Enterprise Partnership estimates at least 55 businesses and 1,800 jobs will be created by 2015;
- Planning: Simplified regime to provide certainty for business wanting to build;
- Broadband: Wireless service 20MB line speeds but can deliver 100MB speeds. A fibre optic option available through the Hereford BDUK Superfast Broadband project (up to 100MB) by 2013;
- Investment: Expecting at least £90m from the private sector by 2015.
Hereford Enterprise Zone Announced
Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a second wave of Enterprise Zones designed to kick-start Britain’s economy.
External site: Department for Communities and Local Government – Enterprise Zones
External site: Transcript of the PM’s speech in Daresbury
Mr Cameron said the sites, which aim to boost local growth and create over 30,000 new jobs by 2015, would be “trailblazers” for prosperity throughout the country.
The second wave of Enterprise Zone will be located in:
- Humber Estuary Renewable Energy Super Cluster;
- Daresbury Science Campus in Warrington;
- Newquay AeroHub in Cornwall;
- The Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus Airfield in Gosport;
- MIRA Technology Park in Hinckley Leicestershire;
- Rotherwas Enterprise Zone in Hereford;
- Discovery Park in Sandwich, Kent and Enterprise West Essex in Harlow;
- Science Vale UK in Oxfordshire;
- Northampton Waterside;
- Alconbury Airfield, near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire; and
- Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, and Lowestoft in Suffolk.
The Government named the first 11 zones in the Spring, in cities including Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.
This brings the total to 22 across the country. The Zones will attract hundreds of new start up firms, with simplified planning rules, super-fast broadband and over £150 million tax breaks for new businesses over the next 4 years.
The PM said:
“We are determined to do everything we can to make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business.
“Enterprise zones are a major step towards delivering this, cutting business taxes, easing planning restrictions and giving business the tools they need to invest and expand.
“These new enterprise zones will be trailblazers for growth, jobs and prosperity throughout the country.”
Alongside the new Zones, the Government is also announcing today that it will make enhanced capital allowances available for plant and machinery investment to a limited number of Enterprise Zones in Assisted Areas, including the Tees Valley and North East.
With effect from 2012, companies setting up in these areas will be eligible to claim enhanced first year allowances for plant and machinery, giving them an upfront cash flow benefit.
The introduction of Enterprise Zones is just one of over 100 reforms being taken forward as part of the Government’s Plan for Growth, announced in the Chancellor’s Budget 2011, to create the conditions for strong, sustainable and balanced growth.
Hereford Enterprise Zone 